Interior mirror assembly with display

ABSTRACT

An interior rearview mirror system and assembly includes a variable reflectivity reflective element and a video display screen disposed behind the reflective element and operable to display images viewable through the reflective element by a person viewing the interior rearview mirror assembly when it is normally mounted in a vehicle. The video display screen may be operable to brighten or enhance the intensity of images displayed by the video display screen responsive to a dimming condition of the variable reflectivity reflective element. The mirror system may include an image sensor and a decoder that decodes an output signal of the image sensor. The decoder has a microprocessor operable to control the video display screen, such that the captured image data are processed and images are displayed via operation of a common microprocessor. A compass chip may connect to a vehicle wire harness that extends from a vehicle headliner.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims benefit of U.S. provisional applications,Ser. No. 61/219,214, filed Jun. 22, 2009; Ser. No. 61/187,069, filedJun. 15, 2009; Ser. No. 61/117,301, filed Nov. 24, 2008; and Ser. No.61/105,903, filed Oct. 16, 2008, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of interiorrearview mirror systems for vehicles and, more particularly, to interiorrearview mirror systems which incorporate a display.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to provide a video display screen at an interior rearviewmirror assembly of a vehicle, such as, for example, a video displayscreen of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,428,172 for REARVIEWMIRROR ASSEMBLY WITH UTILITY FUNCTIONS, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,175,300 forBLIND SPOT VIEWING SYSTEM, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties. It has also been suggested to provide amirror or a display which may be indexed in and out of a mirror case,such as from the bottom of the mirror case, such as also disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 6,428,172, which is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an interior rearview mirror assemblyhaving a video display screen which may display video images captured bya camera or image sensor of the vehicle.

According to an aspect of the present invention, an interior rearviewmirror assembly for a vehicle comprises a casing, a variablereflectivity reflective element, such as positioned at a bezel portionof the casing, and a video display screen disposed in the casing andbehind the reflective element. The video display screen is operable todisplay images that are viewable through the reflective element by aperson viewing the rearview mirror assembly when it is normally mountedin a vehicle. The video display screen may function to brighten orenhance the intensity of the displayed images in response to a dimmingcondition of the variable reflectivity reflective element.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an interiorrearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprises a casing, a reflectiveelement, such as a prismatic reflective element, such as positioned at abezel portion of the casing, and a video display screen disposed in thecasing and behind the reflective element. The video display screen isoperable to display images that are viewable through the reflectiveelement by a person viewing the rearview mirror assembly when it isnormally mounted in a vehicle. The mirror assembly includes a decoderthat decodes the NTSC signal from a camera or image sensor of thevehicle. The decoder has a microprocessor that is operable to controlthe video display screen, such that the images are processed anddisplayed with a common microprocessor, thereby obviating the need for aseparate microprocessor for the video display screen.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a mirror and compasssystem includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a reflectiveelement and a casing that are adjustable relative to a mountingstructure. The mounting structure includes a mounting base. A compasschip having at least two magnetoresponsive sensing elements and compasscircuitry established thereon is positioned at the mounting base. Thecompass chip has at least one connecting element for connecting to avehicle wire harness that extends downward from the vehicle headliner(such as along the vehicle windshield and within a wire channel or wireguide element or the like) and that provides power to the compass chip.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of thepresent invention will become apparent upon review of the followingspecification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of an electro-optic interior rearview mirrorassembly in accordance with the present invention, with the videodisplay screen activated so that images are viewable through thereflective element;

FIGS. 2-4 are perspective views of an interior rearview mirror assemblyin accordance with the present invention, with the compass chip disposedat an upper end of a wire management portion of the mirror assembly;

FIGS. 5-8 are perspective views of the compass chip incorporated intothe interior rearview mirror assembly of FIGS. 2-4;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another interior rearview mirrorassembly and compass chip in accordance with the present invention, witha compass chip disposed at a wire management element attachable to amounting base of the mirror assembly;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are exploded perspective views of the interior rearviewmirror assembly and compass chip of FIG. 9;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are perspective views of the mirror mounting base andthe wire management element that incorporates a compass chip inaccordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 14-31 are views of a display module displaying various imagesand/or icons and/or text information responsive to a control inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 32 is a sectional view of an electrochromic mirror assembly;

FIG. 33 is a sectional view of another electrochromic mirror assembly,shown with a transparent display element in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 34 is a sectional view of another electrochromic mirror assembly,shown with a transparent display element in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 35 is schematic of a transparent OLED display suitable for use withthe reflective element assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 36 is another schematic of a transparent OLED display suitable foruse with the reflective element assembly of the present invention; and

FIGS. 37A and 37B are examples of a transparent OLED display suitablefor use with the reflective element assembly of the present invention,shown in an activated and deactivated state.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depictedtherein, an interior rearview mirror assembly 10 for a vehicle includesa casing, a bezel portion 12 and a reflective element 14 positioned atand at least partially within the casing and/or bezel portion (FIG. 1).Mirror assembly 10 includes a video display screen device 16, which isdisposed within the mirror casing and behind the reflective element 14.The video display screen device is operable to display information orimages for viewing by the driver or other occupant or occupants of thevehicle when the video display screen device is activated, and issubstantially not viewable or discernible when not activated, asdiscussed below.

Video display screen device or module 16 may comprise any type of videoscreen and is operable to display images in response to an input orsignal from a control or imaging system. For example, the video displayscreen may comprise a multi-pixel liquid crystal module (LCM) or liquidcrystal display (LCD), preferably a thin film transistor (TFT)multi-pixel liquid crystal display (such as discussed below), or thescreen may comprise a multi-pixel organic electroluminescent display ora multi-pixel light emitting diode (LED), such as an organic lightemitting diode (OLED) or inorganic light emitting diode display or thelike, or a passive reflective and/or backlit pixelated display, or anelectroluminescent (EL) display, or a vacuum fluorescent (VF) display orthe like. For example, the video display screen may comprise a videoscreen of the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,370,983; 7,338,177;7,274,501; 7,255,451; 7,195,381; 7,184,190; 6,902,284; 6,690,268;6,428,172; 6,420,975; 5,668,663 and/or 5,724,187, and/or U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005 and published Mar.9, 2006 as a U.S. Publication No. 2006/0050018; Ser. No. 11/226,628,filed Sep. 14, 2005 by Karner et al. and published Mar. 23, 2006 as U.S.Publication No. 2006/0061008; Ser. No. 12/091,525, filed Apr. 25, 2008,now U.S. Pat. No. 7,855,755; Ser. No. 09/585,379, filed Jun. 1, 2000;Ser. No. 10/207,291, filed Jul. 29, 2002, and/or U.S. provisionalapplications, Ser. No. 61/238,862, filed Sep. 1, 2009; Ser. No.61/180,257, filed May 21, 2009; Ser. No. 61/174,596, filed May 1, 2009;and/or Ser. No. 61/156,184, filed Feb. 27, 2009, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Video display screen device 16 may be in communication with or mayreceive an input or video signal (such as a NTSC video signal or thelike) from a corresponding imaging sensor or camera or imaging systemand may display the image or images provided by the input or signal onthe video display screen. Alternately, a video signal may be conveyed tothe mirror assembly or system as a digital signal. The video displayscreen device or an imaging or vision system of the vehicle may includea control, which may be in communication with the video display screenvia a wireless communication link or via an electrical connector orwiring or cable or the like.

The control is operable to control the video display screen in responseto an input or signal, such as a signal received from one or morecameras or image sensors of the vehicle, such as a video camera orsensor, such as a CMOS imaging array sensor, a CCD sensor or the like,such as the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,550,677; 5,760,962;6,396,397; 6,097,023; 5,877,897; and 5,796,094, and/or U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/534,632, filed May 11, 2005, and/or U.S.provisional application Ser. No. 61/785,565, filed May 15, 2009, whichare hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, or fromone or more imaging systems of the vehicle, such as a reverse orbackup-aid system, such as a rearwardly directed vehicle vision systemutilizing principles disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,550,677; 5,760,962;5,670,935; 6,201,642; 6,396,397; 6,498,620; 6,717,610 and/or 6,757,109,which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, atrailer hitching aid or tow check system, such as the type disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 7,005,974, which is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety, a cabin viewing or monitoring device orsystem, such as a baby viewing or rear seat viewing camera or device orsystem or the like, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,877,897 and/or6,690,268, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties, a video communication device or system, such as disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 6,690,268, which is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety, and/or the like. The imaging sensor or cameramay be activated and the display screen may be activated in response tothe vehicle shifting into reverse, such that the display screen isviewable by the driver and is displaying an image of the rearward scenewhile the driver is reversing the vehicle.

Optionally, the video display screen may be operable responsive to othercameras and/or navigation systems and/or the like, and may be operableat any time during operation of the vehicle. Thus, the video displayscreen may be operable during daytime and nighttime driving conditionsand may be operable when the variable reflectivity reflective element isdimmed or darkened. Thus, the intensity of the display may be adjustedto account for a reduced transmissivity of the reflective element.

Optionally, and desirably, the intensity or brightness or contrast ofthe video display screen may be automatically adjusted in response to anambient light sensor or glare detector, such as a sensor of the displayscreen device, or of the interior rearview mirror assembly or vehicle orof a console or module or the like, such as the types disclosed in U.S.Pat. Nos. 4,793,690 and/or 5,193,029, which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties. In applications where thedisplay screen device is implemented with an electro-optic orelectrochromic mirror reflective element assembly (such as shown in FIG.1), the display screen device may be automatically adjusted in responseto the ambient light sensor or glare detector associated with theelectro-optic or electrochromic circuitry or system. The displayintensity of the display screen may be adjusted in response to the photosensor or light sensor, and may be increased during daytime lightingconditions and reduced at dusk or during nighttime lighting conditions.The intensity and/or contrast and/or brightness of the display may besubstantially continuously adjusted or may be adjusted intermittently orin steps in response to the light sensor or sensors, such as byutilizing aspects of the displays described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,370,983;5,416,313 and 5,285,060, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/091,525, filed Apr. 25, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,855,755, which arehereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, the video display screen may be operable to adjust theintensity of the displayed images in response to a degree of dimming ofthe electro-optic (such as electrochromic) reflective element of themirror assembly. The video display screen thus may be adjustedresponsive to an output signal of the glare light sensor or an output ofthe mirror reflective element dimming circuitry or the like. Forexample, as the reflective element is dimmed or darkened (such as inresponse to a detection of glare light at the mirror assembly) to reduceglare to the driver of the vehicle, the video display screen may beautomatically brightened. Desirably, the video display screen isbrightened relative to the degree of dimming so that the displayedimages remain at a substantially constant intensity as viewed by thedriver of the vehicle, so that the increasing/decreasing intensity ofthe video display is not readily discernible to the driver of thevehicle. Such an automatic intensity adjustment function is particularlysuitable for a video display screen that may be operable in response tovarious camera inputs and/or navigation system inputs and/or the like,and not only responsive to a rear vision camera (where the dimmingcontrols are typically deactivated when the vehicle is shifted into areverse gear).

In such an application, the mirror dimming control may still beinhibited when the vehicle is shifted into a reverse gear, but will beactive during other driving conditions, and the video display screenwill also be active during reverse and forward driving conditions. Thus,when the video decoder (that may be part of the video display device ormodule) determines that there is a valid video signal, the video decodermay communicate to the mirror microprocessor to activate the back lightof the display module, and the mirror circuitry and/or display circuitrymay adjust the intensity of the video display screen in response to adetected ambient lighting condition and a detected glare lightingcondition (and/or in response to a degree of dimming of the reflectiveelement as set by the mirror circuitry). As the mirror reflectiveelement is dimmed or darkened, the video display screen may re-brightenthe video display intensity based on the EC coloring or dimmingpercentage in front of the video display screen. Likewise, as the mirrorreflective element is bleached or undimmed, the video display screen mayreduce its intensity accordingly.

Desirably, the display screen emits light that is bright enough to bereadily viewable and discernible during high ambient lightingconditions, such as are typically encountered on a sunny day.Preferably, the display luminance (and especially for a TFT LCD displayelement showing video or full color video or still images) is greaterthan about 300 candelas per square meter (cd/m²), more preferablygreater than about 500 cd/m², and more preferably greater than about 700cd/m². This is to help ensure that the driver can discern any videoimage being displayed against the sunlight streaming in through the rearwindow and incident at the display screen at the interior mirrorassembly that will tend to wash-out the video image unless the videoimage is sufficiently bright. Optionally, the display screen may utilizeaspects of the display element described in U.S. patent application Ser.No. 12/091,525, filed Apr. 25, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,855,755, whichis hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Conventionally, a video system may include a decoder for receiving anddecoding video signals from the cameras or image sensors, and the videosystem further includes a connection or communication of the signals toa microprocessor of the video display device. The likes of conventionalprismatic video mirrors typically utilize a two board approach with twoseparate processors: one processor on the video display screen device ormodule (typically, the video display device is provided as a liquidcrystal video screen device or module or LCM with integratedbacklighting and various brightness enhancing means) and anotherprocessor on the printed circuit board or circuit element or mirrorboard or mirror PCB. The processor on the mirror PCB may be operable tocontrol various functions, such as the video display dimming, the powersupply to the video display device module, the human-machine interface(HMI) switch for turning the video display on/off, and to provideprotection and regulated power supply to the video display module andback light.

Optionally, the present invention may provide a decoder that includes amicroprocessor built into the package and with “OSD” (On Screen Display)capability. Thus, the control circuitry on the mirror circuit element orPCB may be moved into the decoder and thus combine the display modulecircuit element or PCB decoder electronics with the mirror circuitelement or PCB electronics. Such combined circuitry can eliminate theneed for an additional processor on the mirror PCB and will combine allfeature control into the decoder. This saves system cost, improves EMC,reduces the PCB size and gives enhanced or full control of the videomirror system to one processor.

Optionally, such a combined circuitry decoder may include additionalenhancement to the existing decoder chip so that the decoder may alsocontrol the dimming of a variable reflectivity reflective element orelectro-optic or electrochromic reflective element. This would eliminatethe mirror EC PCB assembly and would combine all the mirror electronicson a single or common circuit element or PCB that would have the decodercontrol all the video and reflective element dimming features.

For example, a decoder, such as a Techwell 8817 decoder available fromTechwell of San Jose, Calif., or other suitable decoder, may be disposedat a video display screen and may receive standard video signals, suchas NTSC signals or PAL signals or the like, from one or more cameras ofthe vehicle. The decoder may decode the NTSC signals and may digitizethe signals and send the digital signal to the display screen or LCD TFTscreen. The decoder provides on screen display (OSD) capabilities andmay provide other signals or messages with the video feed to the videoscreen.

Optionally, such a decoder (such as a Techwell 8817 Decoder or the like)may be implemented with a video screen for a prismatic video mirrorapplication. For example, the decoder may have a microprocessor and/orother data processing resources, such as memory, converters (such as A/Dconverters and/or the like), and/or CAN/LIN controllers and/or the like,incorporated into the same integrated circuit chip or package and mayinclude OSD capability too. Thus, as well as functioning as a decoder,the same chip or package can provide intelligence/dataprocessing/control for another function/functions oraccessory/accessories in the mirror assembly, such as automatic dimmingcontrol of an antiglare electrochromic rearview mirror and/or intensitycontrol of display backlighting, such as responsive to a photosensor ofthe interior rearview mirror assembly. Current prismatic video mirrorsmay utilize a two board approach with two separate processors (oneprocessor may be on the mirror PCB in order to control the video displaydimming, power supply to the LCM or display screen, the HMI Switch forturning the video display ON/OFF and/or supply protection and regulatedpower supply to the LCM or video display screen and back light.

For example, such a decoder, such as the Techwell 8817 Decoder, mayinclude a board or substrate with circuitry established thereon,including a video decoder (that receives the standard video signal orNTSC signal), a microcontroller, OSD circuitry, image enhancementcircuitry (which may include a built-in 2D de-interlacing engine and ahigh quality scalar, and may provide programmable hue, brightness,saturation, contrast, sharpness control with vertical peaking,programmable color transient improvement control, panorama/water-glassscaling, programmable Gamma correction tables, black/white stretch,programmable favorite color enhancement, and an LED controller (forcontrolling the backlighting LEDs of the TFT backlit video display. Thedecoder may also include other circuitry as desired or appropriatedepending on the particular application of the decoder and video displaymodule. The decoder may support a two-wire serial bus interface forinterfacing with a bus system or network of the vehicle.

The present invention thus moves control circuitry, such as, forexample, a microprocessor and allied circuitry associated with ECdimming of the mirror element, that is currently on the mirror printedcircuit board or PCB into the decoder and combines the video displaymodule or LCM PCB decoder electronics with at least a portion of themirror PCB electronics into a single unitary integrated circuit or chipor package. Such combination and incorporation of the electronics onto asingle decoder board limits or substantially precludes the need for anadditional processor on the mirror PCB and combines all feature controlinto the decoder. The present invention thus reduces system cost,improves EMC, reduces PCB size and may provide full control of the videomirror system to one processor.

Optionally, the decoder of the present invention may be used in anelectrochromic (EC) video mirror assembly. For example, the abovedescribed decoder may be carried over and with additional enhancement tothe existing decoder chip could be a viable solution to also control theEC feature utilizing the decoder too. Such a configuration may limit orsubstantially preclude or eliminate the mirror EC PCB assembly and maycombine all electronics on a single circuit element or board or PCB,whereby the decoder may control all the video and EC features.

Thus, the decoder of the present invention may be readily attached to orconnected to a video display module or screen, such as at the rear ofthe display module. The decoder may be electrically connected to thewire or wires from the camera/cameras and to any other wires of themirror assembly, whereby the decoder is ready for operation. The decoderthus provides video decoding functions and on screen display functionsin a single decoder board. The NTSC (or other standard video input orsignal) thus is received by the decoder and is decoded by the decoder,whereby the OSD of the decoder may generate the display signal to thevideo screen and may send the video display images by themselves or maymix the video signal/images with other display information, such asgraphic overlays or textual information or iconistic display informationor the like.

For example, and with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15, the decoder maycontrol the video display screen to display video images of a scenecaptured by one or more cameras of the vehicle, and may generate agraphic overlay that is electronically generated and superimposed on thevideo image by the decoder. Optionally, the decoder may function todisplay on the video display other messages or signals for viewing bythe driver of the vehicle. For example, and with reference to FIGS.16-31, the decoder may function to display camera status information, ECdimming status information, toll information and toll payment cardstatus information, blind spot detection or object detectioninformation, directional heading information, fuel gauge statusinformation, telephone call status information or other telematicssystem information, vehicle fluid level status information, seat beltstatus information, tire pressure information, directional headingand/or temperature information, and/or the like.

Typically, a backlit video screen utilized in an interior rearviewmirror is provided as a package or module that typically has a 2.4 inchto 4.3 inch diagonal dimension (typically around 3.5 inches) and anaspect ratio of width to height of about 4:3 or about 15:9 or 16:9, andtypically has an active area of around 72 mm wide and 53 mm high for atypical 3.5 inch diagonal screen with a 4:3 aspect ratio, with around70,000-80,000 or thereabouts TFT RGB pixel resolution, or a typical 16:9aspect ratio screen may have an active area of around 71 mm wide and 43mm high, with around 96,000 or thereabouts TFT RGB pixel resolution. Thevideo screen module or package has a circuit board and its controlcircuitry disposed at a rear of the package or module, such as byutilizing aspects of U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,004,593 and 7,370,983, which arehereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Preferably,the circuitry required for operation of the display itself (includingthe video decoding and control of the backlighting and/or the like) andof the associated rearview mirror (such as electrochromic dimming and/orthe like) is established on a printed circuit board or equivalent thatattaches at the rear of the video display screen module or package andis roughly dimensioned to be the same as or close to the size and shapeof the video display screen module or package.

Thus, the decoder of the present invention may decode the video signaland may provide OSD capability and EC control capability, and mayreceive inputs from sensors (such as imaging sensors or photosensors orthe like), and may receive switch inputs and may control variousaccessories in response to the user inputs or switch inputs. The decodermay share or access photo sensors to control the dimming of the display.The decoder thus provides a highly integrated TFT flat panel displaycontroller at a reduced cost, and integrates a microprocessor in thesingle circuit element or board or chip. The decoder may provide UARTcapability, I²C capability, SPI capability and/or the like. Optionally,the decoder may include a transceiver or the like and the decoder mayconnect to or link to a LIN node of a network system of the vehicle.

Optionally, the mirror assembly may include or may be associated with acompass sensor and circuitry for a compass system that detects anddisplays the vehicle directional heading to a driver of the vehicle.Optionally, an integrated automotive “compass-on-a-chip” may be disposedin a cavity of the mounting base of the mirror (or within the mirrorhousing or in an attachment to the mirror mount or elsewhere within theminor assembly such as to the rear of the video screen or to the rear ofthe mirror reflective element) and may comprise at least twomagneto-responsive sensor elements (such as a Hall sensor or multipleHall sensors), associated A/D and D/A converters, associatedmicroprocessor(s) and memory, associated signal processing andfiltering, associated display driver and associated LIN/CAN BUSinterface and the like, all (or a sub-set thereof) created or disposedor commonly established onto a semiconductor chip surface/substrate orsilicon substrate, such as utilizing CMOS technology and/or fabricationtechniques as known in the semiconductor manufacturing arts, andconstituting an ASIC chip, such as utilizing principles described inU.S. Pat. Nos. 7,329,013 and/or 7,370,983, and/or U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005 and published Mar.23, 2006 as U.S. Publication No. 2006/0061008, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties, and/or such as byutilizing aspects of an EC driver-on-a-chip such as described in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/201,661, filed Aug. 11, 2005 by DeWard etal. for ACCESSORY MODULE FOR VEHICLE, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,480,149, whichis hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The ASICchip may be small (preferably less than approximately a two squarecentimeter area, more preferably less than approximately a 1.5 squarecentimeter area, and most preferably less than approximately a onesquare centimeter area or thereabouts) and readily packagable into theminor assembly (or a feed from such a compass-on-a-chip may be providedto the mirror assembly from a compass on-a-chip packaged elsewhere inthe vehicle cabin remote from the mirror assembly such as in aninstrument panel portion or in roof console portion). Such large scaleintegration onto the likes of the silicon substrate/chip can allow acompass functionality to be provided by a relatively small chip, andwith appropriate pin out or electrical leads provided as is common inthe electrical art.

As shown in FIGS. 2-4, a compass chip or compass module 30 may bedisposed at an upper end of the mounting base 32 of a mirror assembly34, such as at an upper or connecting end of a wire management element33 connected to or extending from the mounting base 32 of the mirrorassembly. The compass chip 30 may have a connector or connectingelements 36 established on the chip substrate. As shown in FIGS. 3-8,compass chip or module 30 includes a housing 30 a having the connector36 at one end and a housing portion 37 at the other end, with thecompass chip circuitry 40 housed within the housing portion 37 andelectrically connected to the connector terminals. In the illustratedembodiment, the connector 36 is at the upper end or region of the wiremanagement element at the mounting base and at a portion of the wiremanagement element or mounting base extension that mounts to or hasattached to it a wire management element or channel or cover element 38(FIGS. 3 and 4), such as a wire management system or element of thetypes described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/226,628, filedSep. 14, 2005 and published Mar. 23, 2006 as U.S. Publication No.2006/0061008; and/or Ser. No. 11/584,697, filed Oct. 20, 2006, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,510,287, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties.

A wire harness 42 of the vehicle may be routed along channel or coverelement 38 and may plug into or readily connect to connector 36 ofcompass chip 30 to provide the electrical power and/or control to thecompass system and to any other circuitry or device or system associatedwith or established on or connected to the compass chip. Thus, thecompass chip is provided at the mounting base of the mirror assembly orat a wire management element at the mounting base of the mirrorassembly, and may be readily connected to the vehicle wire harness toenhance the assembly processes at the vehicle assembly plant. Thecompass chip thus may provide all of the compass electronics andcircuitry at the compass chip, whereby no electronics need be providedwithin the mirror assembly.

The integrated compass chip may be connected to a power in or supplylead or wiring harness (such as a wiring harness that extends down fromthe headliner of the vehicle) and may connect to a wiring or harness ofthe mirror assembly. Preferably, the compass chip may connect betweenand in-line with the vehicle wiring harness and the mirror wiringharness (which may connect between the mounting base of the mirrorassembly and the mirror casing, such as in the manner described in U.S.Pat. Nos. 7,329,013 and/or 7,370,983, and/or U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005 and published Mar. 23, 2006 asU.S. Publication No. 2006/0061008; and/or Ser. No. 11/584,697, filedOct. 20, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,510,287, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties), or in-line withanother plug/socket connector of the vehicle. The integrated compasschip thus may be readily connected, such as via plug-in socket typeconnections, to both wires or harnesses to electrically connect thecompass chip to the power source and to a display or user interface orinput at the mirror. The connectors of the compass chip may be selectedsuch that when the compass chip is not selected as an option of thevehicle, the vehicle wiring harness connects to or plugs into the mirrorharness or wiring in the same manner, such that common wiring harnessesand/or connectors may be used at the vehicle and mirror, regardless ofwhether or not the compass system is included. Thus, an electronic chip(such as an integrated compass-on-a-chip) may be connected in-line withan existing plug/socket arrangement in the vehicle such that thepresence of the chip-in-line is largely unnoticed by the vehicleoccupants.

Optionally, such a connection can be made to the compass chip via aplug-and-socket type connection between the vehicle wire harness and aconnector established at the compass chip. Optionally, the compass chip(such as at the connector end of the compass chip) may include terminalsextending therefrom or receiving portions established therein andconfigured to electrically connect to the vehicle wire harness at theupper region of the mounting base.

Optionally, the compass chip may be disposed at the mirror mountingbase, whereby when the wire harness connects to the compass chip, thecompass chip may be sealed or encased within the mirror mounting base.Optionally, the compass chip may be disposed inside a connector elementand may be substantially sealed or encased therein to protect thecircuitry on the compass chip.

For example, and with reference to FIGS. 9-13, a compass chip or compassmodule 130 may be disposed at an upper end or portion of a mounting baseof a mirror assembly 134, such as at an upper mounting base portion 132a that is connected to or mounted at or extends from a lower mountingbase portion 132 b of the mirror assembly 134. The compass chip 130 maybe disposed within the upper mounting base portion 132 a, which may havea wire 136 and/or a connector or connecting elements established at itsupper end for connecting to a vehicle wire harness or the like. Thecompass chip or circuitry may be disposed within upper mounting portion132 a, such as at or near the lower region of the upper mounting portionso as to be disposed at or near the fixedly mounted or attached lowermounting base 132 b (which may be fixedly secured to a mounting buttonor element 140 affixed or adhered to the vehicle windshield). Thecompass chip of the upper mounting base portion may be similar inconstruction to the compass chip 30, described above, such that adetailed discussion of the compass chips need not be repeated herein.

In the illustrated embodiment, the connector or wire 136 extends fromthe upper end or region of the upper mounting base portion 132 a and maybe routed along or within a wire management element or channel or coverelement 138 that routes and conceals the wire between the upper mountingbase portion 132 a and the vehicle headliner at the upper region of thevehicle windshield. A wire harness of the vehicle may be routed alongchannel or cover element 138 and may plug into or readily connect toconnector or wire 136 of compass chip 130 to provide the electricalpower and/or control to the compass system and to any other circuitry ordevice or system associated with or established on or connected to thecompass chip. Optionally, the upper end or portion of the upper mountingbase portion may have a connector established thereat, whereby a vehiclewire harness may extend down from the headliner (and along and within awire management element) for connection to the connector and compasschip at the upper mounting base portion.

As can be seen in FIGS. 10 and 11, the upper mounting base portion 132 aand the lower mounting base portion 132 b may be configured so that theupper mounting base portion 132 a is readily connectable to the lowermounting base portion 132 b, such as via a plug and socket connectingconfiguration or the like. Thus, the upper mounting base portion 132 amay be readily mounted to or attached to or plugged into the lowermounting base portion 132 b to position the compass chip at or near themounting base of the mirror assembly. Optionally, the mounting baseportions 132 a, 132 b may include electrical connectors so as facilitateelectrical connection of the compass chip and/or vehicle wire harness toelectrical circuitry at the lower mounting base portion or at the mirrorassembly (such as via a wire or cable or other electrical connectionbetween the lower mounting base portion and the mirror casing orcircuitry therein) when the upper mounting base portion is connected toor mounted at the lower mounting base portion.

Thus, the compass chip or compass module is provided at the mountingbase of the mirror assembly and may be readily connected to the vehiclewire harness to enhance the assembly processes at the vehicle assemblyplant. The compass chip thus may provide all of the compass electronicsand circuitry at the compass chip, whereby no electronics need beprovided within the mirror assembly (such that the compass chip may besuitable for application to base mirrors, such as base prismatic mirrorsand the like).

Thus, the compass chip may be small enough to fit at or in the wiremanagement structure or mounting base structure at the mirror mountingbase and may readily connect to the vehicle wire harness to receivepower and/or control from the vehicle wire harness. Optionally, thecompass chip may include all circuitry and microprocessor needed tooperate the compass system and any other associated accessories orsystems, and the mirror assembly may not include any circuitry in itsmirror casing. Optionally, and desirably, the compass chip or module orhousing and/or the wire management element or the upper mounting portionis/are configured to support the compass sensors at an appropriate anglesuch that the sensors are generally horizontal when the compass chip ismounted along the windshield of the vehicle.

Optionally, such a compass-on-a-chip ASIC may also include the hardwareand software required to receive an output from a temperature sensor(such as a thermocouple or thermostat that is located external thevehicle cabin in order to sense and monitor the temperature external tothe vehicle) and to convert this signal to a reading in degreesFahrenheit or Celsius, and to provide this reading via an on-chiptemperature display driver and/or via a BUS protocol or via an on-chipwireless transmitter or the like to a digital or other type oftemperature display so that the driver and/or occupants of the vehiclecan view the temperature being measured (such as the temperatureexternal the vehicle and/or the temperature within the vehicle cabin).Thus, for example, a monolithic compass/temp-on-a-chip ASIC may bedisposed in the likes of a mirror mount or within the mirrorhead/housing of an interior rearview mirror assembly, and it may provideboth the external temperature readout and a compass direction headingreadout to an information display at the mirror head/housing (orelsewhere in the vehicle, such as the instrument panel/cluster or at anoverhead console or accessory module or the like). Optionally, such achip or circuit board or circuitry may also or otherwise comprise ECdriver circuitry for controlling/driving an electro-optic orelectrochromic reflective element or cell, such as by utilizing aspectsof the EC driver-on-a-chip such as described in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/201,661, filed Aug. 11, 2005 by DeWard et al. for ACCESSORYMODULE FOR VEHICLE, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,480,149, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The printed circuit board or equivalent may comprise a generally flat,rectangular element or substrate with conductive traces and circuitrydisposed thereon. Because it is desired to provide sensing in the x-ydirections (or in a horizontal plane), the compass sensor is preferablydisposed so that the compass sensor elements are generally horizontalwhen the mirror assembly is installed in the vehicle.

The compass chip may be in communication with a compass display, whichmay provide a display region at the reflective element, and whichincludes ports or portions, which may comprise icons, characters orletters or the like representative of only the cardinal directionalpoints, such as, for example, the characters N, S, E, W, formed oretched in the reflective film coating of the reflective element (andforming a transparent window therein), such as via techniques such asdisclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,882,565 and/or7,004,593, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in theirentireties. Optionally, however, reflective element may comprise atransflective or display on demand (DOD) reflective element, and thecompass display may be a display on demand (DOD) type of display, suchas disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,195,381; 6,690,268;5,668,663 and 5,724,187, which are hereby incorporated by referenceherein in their entireties, without affecting the scope of the presentinvention.

Optionally, the sensor may comprise a two-axis sensor (comprising twomagneto responsive sensor elements disposed at a fixed angle relative toeach other, such as, preferably, orthogonally to each other, anddisposed in the cavity generally parallel to the floor plane of thevehicle so as to be sensitive to the horizontal component of the Earth'smagnetic field), or the sensor may comprise a three-axis sensor(comprising two magneto-responsive sensor elements disposed orthogonallyto each other and disposed in the cavity, and a third magneto-responsivesensor element at a right angle (approximately ninety degrees) to thetwo sensor elements and disposed in the cavity, so that the three-axissensor is sensitive to the horizontal component and to the verticalcomponent of the Earth's magnetic field), without affecting the scope ofthe present invention. The sensor may be arranged at a desired angle toprovide enhanced sensing in the horizontal directions when the mirrorassembly is installed in the vehicle. For example, aspects ofconstructions such as are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,140,933 and6,928,366, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties, may be utilized.

Optionally, the compass system and compass circuitry may utilize aspectsof the compass systems described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,370,983; 7,249,860;7,004,593; 6,642,851; 4,546,551; 5,699,044; 4,953,305; 5,576,687;5,632,092; 5,677,851; 5,708,410; 5,737,226; 5,802,727; 5,878,370;6,087,953; 6,173,508; 6,222,460; and/or 6,513,252, and/or PCTApplication No. PCT/US2004/015424, filed May 18, 2004 by Donnelly Corp.et al. for MIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE, and published on Dec. 2, 2004,as International Publication No. WO 2004/103772, and/or European patentapplication, published Oct. 11, 2000 under Publication No. EP 0 1043566,and/or U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/624,091, filed Nov. 1,2004; Ser. No. 60/636,931, filed Dec. 17, 2004; Ser. No. 60/638,250,filed Dec. 21, 2004; Ser. No. 60/642,227, filed Jan. 7, 2005; and Ser.No. 60/653,787, filed Feb. 17, 2005, which are all hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties. The compass circuitry mayinclude compass sensors, such as a magneto-responsive sensor, such as amagneto-resistive sensor, a magneto capacitive sensor, a Hall sensor, amagneto-inductive sensor, a flux-gate sensor or the like. The sensor orsensors may be positioned at and within a base portion of the mirrorassembly so that the sensor/sensors is/are substantially fixedlypositioned within the vehicle, or may be attached or positioned withinthe mirror casing. Note that the magneto-responsive sensor used with themirror assembly may comprise a magneto-responsive sensor, such as amagneto-resistive sensor, such as the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,255,442; 5,632,092; 5,802,727; 6,173,501; 6,427,349; and 6,513,252(which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties),or a magneto-inductive sensor, such as described in U.S. Pat. No.5,878,370 (which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety), or a magneto-impedance sensor, such as the types described inPCT Publication No. WO 2004/076971 A2, published Sep. 10, 2004 (which ishereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), or aHall-effect sensor, such as the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos.6,278,271; 5,942,895 and 6,184,679 (which are hereby incorporated hereinby reference in their entireties). The sensor circuitry and/or thecircuitry in the mirror housing and associated with the sensor mayinclude processing circuitry. For example, a printed circuit board mayinclude processing circuitry which may include compensation methods,such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,546,551; 5,699,044;4,953,305; 5,576,687; 5,632,092; 5,677,851; 5,708,410; 5,737,226;5,802,727; 5,878,370; 6,087,953; 6,173,508; 6,222,460; and 6,642,851,which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties. The compass sensor may be incorporated in or associated witha compass system and/or display system for displaying a directionalheading of the vehicle to the driver, such as a compass system of thetypes described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,924,212; 4,862,594; 4,937,945;5,131,154; 5,255,442; 5,632,092; and/or 7,004,593, and/or PCTApplication No. PCT/US2004/015424, filed May 18, 2004 by Donnelly Corp.et al. for MIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE, and published on Dec. 2, 2004,as International Publication No. WO 2004/103772, which are all herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, and as shown in FIG. 1, the mirror assembly may comprise anelectro-optic or electrochromic mirror assembly and may include anelectro-optic or electrochromic reflective element. The electrochromicmirror element of the electrochromic mirror assembly may utilize theprinciples disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,690,268;5,140,455; 5,151,816; 6,178,034; 6,154,306; 6,002,544; 5,567,360;5,525,264; 5,610,756; 5,406,414; 5,253,109; 5,076,673; 5,073,012;5,117,346; 5,724,187; 5,668,663; 5,910,854; 5,142,407 and/or 4,712,879,and/or U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 61/232,246, filed Aug. 7,2009; Ser. No. 61/186,204, filed Jun. 11, 2009; and Ser. No. 61/164,593,filed Mar. 30, 2009, which are hereby incorporated herein by referencein their entireties, and/or as disclosed in the following publications:N. R. Lynam, “Electrochromic Automotive Day/Night Mirrors”, SAETechnical Paper Series 870636 (1987); N. R. Lynam, “Smart Windows forAutomobiles”, SAE Technical Paper Series 900419 (1990); N. R. Lynam andA. Agrawal, “Automotive Applications of Chromogenic Materials”, LargeArea Chromogenics: Materials and Devices for Transmittance Control, C.M. Lampert and C. G. Granquist, EDS., Optical Engineering Press, Wash.(1990), which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in theirentireties; and/or as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,195,381, which ishereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Optionally, theelectrochromic circuitry and/or a glare sensor (such as a rearwardfacing glare sensor that receives light from rearward of the mirrorassembly and vehicle through a port or opening along the casing and/orbezel portion and/or reflective element of the mirror assembly) andcircuitry and/or an ambient light sensor and circuitry may be providedon one or more circuit boards of the mirror assembly. The mirrorassembly may include one or more other displays, such as the typesdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,530,240 and/or 6,329,925, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties, and/ordisplay-on-demand transflective type displays, such as the typesdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,274,501; 7,255,451; 7,195,381; 7,184,190;5,668,663; 5,724,187 and/or 6,690,268, and/or in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005; and/or Ser. No. 10/538,724,filed Jun. 13, 2005, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US03/29776, filedSep. 9, 2003 by Donnelly Corp. et al. for MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENTASSEMBLY, and published Apr. 1, 2004 as International Publication No. WO2004/026633, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties. The thicknesses and materials of the coatings on thesubstrates, such as on the third surface of the reflective elementassembly, may be selected to provide a desired color or tint to themirror reflective element, such as a blue colored reflector, such as isknown in the art and such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,910,854;6,420,036; and/or 7,274,501, and in PCT Application No. PCT/US03/29776,filed Sep. 9, 2003 by Donnelly Corp. et al. for MIRROR REFLECTIVEELEMENT ASSEMBLY, and published Apr. 1, 2004 as InternationalPublication No. WO 2004/026633, which are all hereby incorporated hereinby reference in their entireties.

For example, and with reference to FIG. 32, a mirror reflective elementassembly 210 may comprise an electro-optic (such as electrochromic)mirror reflective element assembly with a first or front substrate 212having a first or front surface 212 a (the surface generally facing thedriver of a vehicle when the mirror reflective element assembly isnormally mounted in the vehicle) and a second or rear surface 212 b anda second or rear substrate 214 having a third or front surface 214 a anda fourth or rear surface 214 b. A perimeter seal 216 is disposed betweenthe front and rear substrates and spaces the substrates apart anddefines an interpane cavity between the substrates with an electro-optic(such as electrochromic) medium 218 disposed within the interpane cavityand contacting a transparent conductive layer or coating 220 at thesecond surface 212 b of front substrate 212 and a metallic reflectorlayer or coating 222 at the third surface 214 a of rear substrate 214. Alight absorbing layer or coating or film 224 may be disposed at the rearor fourth surface 214 b of rear substrate 214. Optionally, the thirdsurface or rear surface of the rear substrate may have a transparentconductive coating established thereat and a metallic reflector may bedisposed at the fourth surface or rear surface of the rear substrate. Insuch an embodiment, the mirror reflective element assembly need notinclude the light absorbing layer at the rear surface of the rearsubstrate.

Optionally, and with reference to FIG. 33, a mirror reflective elementassembly 210′ may include a transparent organic light emitting diode(OLED) display element or device 230′ disposed at a display region orportion of front substrate 212 and in front of the front substrate 212.In the illustrated embodiment, transparent OLED display 230′ is disposedat first or front surface 212 a of front substrate 212, with a thin orultra-thin glass cover sheet 232′ (such as a thin glass cover sheethaving a thickness of less than about 1 mm and preferably less thanabout 0.5 mm or thereabouts and greater than 0.1 mm) disposed over thefront substrate 212 and the OLED display 230′. The cover sheet 232′ maybe attached to the front substrate 212, such as via a laminatingmaterial 234′ between the front surface 212 a of front substrate 212 anda rear surface 232 b′ of cover sheet 232′. The reflective elementassembly 210′ includes transparent electrically conductive tracks orlayers 236′ disposed at the front or first surface 212 a of frontsubstrate 212 to facilitate electrical connection to the OLED display230′. Optionally, the conductive tracks or layers 236′ (such astransparent tracks or raceways of indium tin oxide (ITO) or the like)may extend over and encompass the perimeter edge of the front substrateso as to provide a wraparound electrically conductive track to easeelectrical connection to the transparent OLED display. In this or in asimilar manner, electrical power and/or signals may be delivered to thetransparent OLED display via transparent conductors/transparentconductor paths established such as at the front surface of the frontsubstrate and at or near the perimeter region of the reflective elementassembly so as to be at least partially and preferably substantially nondiscernible/non-visible to a driver viewing the reflective elementassembly when the mirror assembly and reflective element assembly arenormally mounted in the vehicle.

Optionally, and with reference to FIG. 34, a mirror reflective elementassembly 210″ may include a transparent organic light emitting diode(OLED) display element or device 230″ that may comprise the front of thefront substrate of the reflective element assembly. In the illustratedembodiment, OLED display 230″ has a transparent electrically conductivelayer or coating 220″ disposed at its rear or second surface 230 b″ anda transparent electrically conductive layer 221″ disposed at its frontor first surface 230 a″. The transparent OLED display 230″ thusencompasses substantially the entire reflective element assembly, andmay have a thin or ultra-thin glass cover sheet 232″ disposed over andlaminated to OLED display 230″ (such as at the transparent electricallyconductive layer 221″ at the front or first surface 230 a″ oftransparent OLED display 230″) via a laminating material 234″.Optionally, the transparent OLED display may comprise an outer or frontsubstrate or panel of the reflective element assembly, and thereflective element assembly may not include the thin or ultrathin coversheet over the display.

The OLED display preferably comprises a substantially transparentdisplay that is substantially transparent when not activated orenergized. Optionally, for example, the OLED display may comprise antransparent OLED display element of the types commercially availablefrom NeoView Kolon Co., Ltd. [see www.neoviewkolon.com]. For example,and as shown in FIGS. 35 and 36, the transparent OLED display mayinclude an organic film structure and electrodes established at thefront surface or first surface of a substrate, such as a glass substrateof the reflective element assembly. An encapsulation layer mayencapsulate the transparent metal cathodes and ITO anodes (or othertransparent electrically conductive anodes), with an emission layerdisposed between the metal cathode and ITO anode. As can be seen in FIG.36, an electron transport layer, an emission layer, a hole transportlayer and a hole injection layer are sandwiched between a transparentelectrically conductive ITO anode (that is disposed on a glasssubstrate) and a transflective metal cathode that has a very low tonegligible reflection and a high transmission (such as at least at leastabout 50 percent transmissive of visible light therethrough, morepreferably at least about 65 percent transmissive of visible lighttherethrough, and more preferably at least about 75 percent transmissiveof visible light therethrough). Alternately, the low reflection/hightransmittance metal cathode (which typically is a very thin metal thinfilm layer) may be replaced with a transparent conductive layer.Optionally, such as shown in FIG. 34, the glass substrate of thetransparent OLED display may be coated at its rear surface with atransparent conductive coating (such as ITO or the like) and theelectro-optic medium may abut the rear surface of the substrate of thetransparent OLED display.

When an electric current is passed between the electrodes, light isemitted with a color that is dependant on the particular materials usedin the construction of the OLED display. Such a transparent OLED displaymay be formed as a thin layer (such as a layer about 0.01 μm orthereabouts) with a metal layer or layers that has/have lower reflectionand higher transmission properties as compared to higher reflectivemetallic materials typically used as electrodes. For example, atransparent OLED display of the mirror reflective element assembly ofthe present invention is preferably at least about 50 percenttransmissive of visible light therethrough, more preferably at leastabout 65 percent transmissive of visible light therethrough, and morepreferably at least about 75 percent transmissive of visible lighttherethrough, and is preferably substantially spectrally non-selectiveor untinted and presenting a water clear view therethrough, such thatthe presence of the transparent OLED display is not readily discerniblein front of the mirror reflector when the display is not activated orenergized and when a person is viewing the mirror reflective assemblywhen the reflective element assembly and mirror assembly are normallymounted in the vehicle (such as shown in FIG. 37B).

When the transparent OLED display is energized (such as shown in FIG.37A), the transparent OLED display may display information at a displayintensity of at least about 200 candelas per square meter (cd/m²) andpreferably at least about 400 cd/m², and more preferably at least about1,000 cd/m², so as to exhibit good contrast against the reflections offthe mirror reflector therebehind when viewed by the driver of thevehicle equipped with the reflective element assembly and transparentOLED display, particularly on a sunny day. Because the transparent OLEDdisplay is disposed at the front surface of the front substrate of thereflective element assembly, the display information displayed by thetransparent OLED display need not pass through a transflective mirrorreflector coating at the third surface of the rear substrate, and thusthe intensity of the display information is not reduced or attenuated bythe mirror reflector of the mirror reflective element assembly.Optionally, and desirably, the intensity of the display may becontrolled or adjusted responsive to a detected ambient light level atthe mirror assembly and/or vehicle (such as responsive to an ambientlight sensor of the mirror assembly of the like).

Because the transparent OLED display is disposed in front of the frontsurface of the reflective element assembly, the third surface reflectorcoating 222 at the front or third surface 214 a of rear substrate 214need not comprise a transflective coating or layer (i.e., a metalliclayer or layers that is partially transmitting of light therethrough andpartially reflective of light incident thereon). However, optionally,the third surface reflector coating 222 may comprise a transflectivelayer and the mirror reflective element assembly may have anotherdisplay element disposed behind the rear or fourth surface 214 b of rearsubstrate 214 and operable to transmit display information through thethird surface reflector coating 222 for viewing by a person viewing themirror assembly when the mirror assembly and reflective element assemblyare normally mounted in a vehicle.

Thus, by placing a transparent OLED information display, such as atransparent OLED multipixel video display, at the front of the mirrorreflective element assembly and in front of the mirror reflector, avideo mirror can be formed (and may be suitable for use with the likesof a vision or imaging system of the vehicle, such as, for example, areverse or backup aid system, such as a rearwardly directed vehiclevision system utilizing principles disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,550,677; 5,760,962; 5,670,935; 6,201,642; 6,396,397; 6,498,620;6,717,610 and/or 6,757,109, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties, a trailer hitching aid or tow checksystem, such as the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,005,974, which ishereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, a cabin viewingor monitoring device or system, such as a baby viewing or rear seatviewing camera or device or system or the like, such as disclosed inU.S. Pat. Nos. 5,877,897 and/or 6,690,268, which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties, a video communication device orsystem, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,690,268, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety) without a need toutilize a transflective mirror reflector, and being transparent, theimages and/or icons and/or characters and/or the like displayed by thetransparent OLED display can be displayed on demand and appearcontrasted with the reflected scene in the mirror reflective element.The presence of the transparent OLED information display device (such asa transparent OLED video display screen) in front of the mirrorreflector is substantially non-discernible to a viewer viewing themirror reflective element assembly by reason of the transparent OLEDdevice comprising a substantially transparent substrate. Optionally,although shown and described as being disposed at the front of anelectro-optic mirror reflective element assembly, a non-electro opticmirror reflective element (such as a prismatic reflective element or aflat or curved or bent single substrate reflective element or the like)may incorporate a transparent OLED display thereat, while remainingwithin the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Optionally, the interior rearview mirror assembly may comprise aprismatic mirror assembly or a non-electro-optic mirror assembly or anelectro-optic or electrochromic mirror assembly. For example, theinterior rearview mirror assembly may comprise a prismatic mirrorassembly, such as the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,249,860;6,318,870; 6,598,980; 5,327,288; 4,948,242; 4,826,289; 4,436,371; and4,435,042; and PCT Application No. PCT/US2004/015424, filed May 18, 2004by Donnelly Corporation et al. for MIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE, andpublished on Dec. 2, 2004, as International Publication No. WO2004/103772, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties. Optionally, the prismatic reflective element may comprise aconventional prismatic reflective element or prism or may comprise aprismatic reflective element of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos.7,420,756; 7,274,501; 7,249,860; 7,338,177; and/or 7,255,451, and/or PCTApplication No. PCT/US03/29776, filed Sep. 19, 2003 by Donnelly Corp. etal. for MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENT ASSEMBLY, and published Apr. 1, 2004as International Publication No. WO 2004/026633; and/or PCT ApplicationNo. PCT/US2004/015424, filed May 18, 2004 by Donnelly Corporation et al.for MIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE, and published on Dec. 2, 2004, asInternational Publication No. WO 2004/103772; and U.S. provisionalapplication Ser. No. 60/525,952, filed Nov. 26, 2003, which are allhereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, withoutaffecting the scope of the present invention. A variety of mirroraccessories and constructions are known in the art, such as thosedisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,555,136; 5,582,383; 5,680,263; 5,984,482;6,227,675; 6,229,319; and 6,315,421 (the entire disclosures of which arehereby incorporated by reference herein), that can benefit from thepresent invention.

Optionally, the display screen and/or mirror may include user interfaceinputs, such as buttons or switches or touch or proximity sensors or thelike, with which a user may adjust one or more characteristics of theimaging sensor and/or imaging system, such as via the principlesdescribed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/091,525, filed Apr. 25,2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,855,755; and/or Ser. No. 11/239,980, filedSep. 30, 2005 , now U.S. Pat. No. 7,188,496, and/or U.S. provisionalapplications, Ser. No. 60/614,644, filed Sep. 30, 2004; Ser. No.60/618,686, filed Oct. 14, 2004; and Ser. No. 60/628,709, filed Nov. 17,2004, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties. Optionally, the images captured by the imaging sensor orcamera may be processed by the control to extract information or datafor different applications or systems, such as described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/239,980, filed Sep. 30, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No.7,881,496, and/or U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/618,686,filed Oct. 14, 2004, which are hereby incorporated herein by referencein their entireties.

The control of the mirror assembly and/or the display screen may receiveimage data or the like from an imaging sensor or camera positionedelsewhere at or on or in the vehicle, such as at a rearward portion ofthe vehicle with a rearward exterior field of view, or such as at aninterior portion (such as at or near or associated with the interiorrearview mirror assembly or an accessory module or windshieldelectronics module or the like) of the vehicle with an interior field ofview (such as into the vehicle cabin) or an exterior field of view (suchas forwardly of and through the windshield of the vehicle). The signalfrom the camera or image data may be communicated to the control viavarious communication links or video transmission medium, such as wiresor cables (such as a CAT-3 shielded twisted pair wire or a CAT-5 coaxialcable or the like) or a fiber optic cable or via wireless communication,such as IR signals or VHF or UHF signals or the like, or via a multiplexbus system of the vehicle or the like. For example, the connection orlink between the imaging sensor or controls and the mirror assemblyand/or display screen module may be provided via vehicle electronic orcommunication systems and the like, and may be connected via variousprotocols or nodes, such as BLUETOOTH®, SCP, UBP, J1850, CAN J2284, FireWire 1394, MOST, LIN, FlexRay™, Byte Flight and/or the like, or othervehicle-based or in-vehicle communication links or systems (such as WIFIand/or IRDA), or via wireless communications such as VHF or UHF signals,and/or the like, depending on the particular application of themirror/display system and the vehicle.

The imaging sensor or camera may provide various image data signals,such as an NTSC signal or LVDS, PAL, analog RGB, component video, SECAM,S-video or the like. Optionally, the imaging system may be operable toselectively switch between, for example, PAL and NTSC, to adjust theimaging system and mirror/display system to accommodate European andU.S. applications.

The interior rearview mirror assembly may include a bezel portion andcasing, such as described above, or the mirror assembly may compriseother types of casings or bezel portions or the like, such as describedin U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,249,860; 6,439,755; 4,826,289; and 6,501,387; and/orPCT Application No. PCT/US2004/015424, filed May 18, 2004 by DonnellyCorp. et al. for MIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE, and published on Dec. 2,2004, as International Publication No. WO 2004/103772; and/or U.S.patent application and/or Ser. No. 10/993,302, filed Nov. 19, 2004; nowU.S. Pat. No. 7,338,177;and/or U.S. provisional application Ser. No.60/525,952, filed Nov. 26, 2003, which are all hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties, without affecting the scope ofthe present invention. For example, the mirror assembly may comprise aflush or frameless or bezelless reflective element, such as the typesdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,255,451; 7,274,501; and/or 7,184,190,and/or in PCT Application No. PCT/US2004/015424, filed May 18, 2004 byDonnelly Corp. et al. for MIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE, and published onDec. 2, 2004, as International Publication No. WO 2004/103772; PCTApplication No. PCT/US03/35381, filed Nov. 5, 2003 by Donnelly Corp. etal. for ELECTRO-OPTIC REFLECTIVE ELEMENT ASSEMBLY, and published May 21,2004as International Publication No. WO 2004/042457; and/or in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/140,396, filed May 27, 2005; Ser. No.11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005 and published Mar. 23, 2006 as U.S.Publication No. 2006/0061008; Ser. No. 11/912,576, filed Oct. 25, 2005,now U.S. Pat. NO. 7,626,749; and/or Ser. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13,2005 and published Mar. 9, 2006 as U.S. Publication No. 2006/0050018;and/or in U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/563,342, filed Apr.19, 2004; Ser. No. 60/629,926, filed Nov. 22, 2004; Ser. No. 60/624,320,filed Nov. 2, 2004; Ser. No. 60/681,250, filed May 16, 2005; Ser. No.60/690,400, filed Jun. 14, 2005; Ser. No. 60/695,149, filed Jun. 29,2005; and/or Ser. No. 60/730,334, filed Oct. 26, 2005, which are allhereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, the mirror assembly may comprise a modular mirrorconstruction, and may include back housing portions or the like, such ascap portions of the types described in PCT Application No.PCT/US2004/015424, filed May 18, 2004 by Donnelly Corporation et al. forMIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE, and published on Dec. 2, 2004, asInternational Publication No. WO 2004/103772, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The display screen maybe provided as a modular display screen and may be mountable orinstallable in the appropriate or suitable mirror casing to provide amodular mirror assembly and display screen. For example, a rear casingor cap portion may include the display screen module including theassociated components, such as the rails and motor and the like, and maybe attachable to a reflective element and/or bezel portion to assemblethe modular mirror assembly. The display screen module thus may beprovided as an optional component or accessory for a vehicle, and may bereadily assembled to a common reflective element and/or bezel portion ofthe mirror assembly.

Optionally, the mirror casing and/or reflective element, and/or thedisplay screen casing and/or display screen may include customized orpersonalized viewable characteristics, such as color or symbols orindicia selected by the vehicle manufacturer or owner of the vehicle,such as the customization characteristics described in PCT ApplicationNo. PCT/US2004/015424, filed May 18, 2004 by Donnelly Corporation et al.for MIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE, and published on Dec. 2, 2004, asInternational Publication No. WO 2004/103772; and/or U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/912,576, filed Oct. 25, 2005, now U.S. Pat.No.7,626,749; Ser. No. 11/243,783, filed Oct. 5, 2005 and published Apr.20, 2006 as U.S. Publication No. 2006-0082192; and/or Ser. No.11/021,065, filed Dec. 23, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,255,451; and/orU.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/553,842, filed Mar. 17, 2004;Ser. No. 60/563,342, filed Apr. 19, 2004; Ser. No. 60/629,926, filedNov. 22, 2004; Ser. No. 60/681,250, filed May 16, 2005; Ser. No.60/690,400, filed Jun. 14, 2005; Ser. No. 60/695,149, filed Jun. 29,2005; Ser. No. 60/730,334, filed Oct. 26, 2005; and/or Ser. No.60/616,182, filed Oct. 5, 2004, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties. For example, the frame or casing of thedisplay module and/or the mirror assembly may be selected to have adesired color or combination of colors (or text or print or indiciathereon) to personalize the appearance of the mirror assembly.Optionally, the reflective element may include text or symbols or iconsor other characters or indicia to provide a desired appearance ormessage at the mirror assembly or display screen, such as by utilizingaspects of the mirror assembly described in PCT Application No.PCT/US2004/015424, filed May 18, 2004 by Donnelly Corporation et al. forMIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE, and published on Dec. 2, 2004, asInternational Publication No. WO 2004/103772; and/or U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/912,576, filed Oct. 25, 2005, now U.S. Pat. NO.7,626,749; Ser. No. 11/243,783, filed Oct. 5, 2005 and published Apr.20, 2006 as U.S. Publication No. 2006-0082192, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties. The icons orcharacters or indicia may be formed at or near or on the display screen,or may be provided via graphic overlays when the display screen isextended and operating, or may otherwise be formed or provided at or onor in the display screen casing or frame, without affecting the scope ofthe present invention. Optionally, the bezel or frame color or colorsmay be selected to be designer colors or may match or contrast the colorof the mirror casing, and/or may have logos or icons or other indiciathereon. Optionally, the display screen module may include warnings orother statements or alerts or messages printed or otherwise formed onthe bezel or frame portion of the display screen so that the messages orthe like are readily viewable when the display screen is extended.

Optionally, the mirror assembly and/or prismatic or electrochromicreflective element may include one or more displays, such as for theaccessories or circuitry described herein. The displays may be similarto those described above, or may be of types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,530,240 and/or 6,329,925, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties, and/or may be display-on-demand ortransflective type displays, such as the types disclosed in U.S. Pat.Nos. 7,195,381; 6,690,298; 5,668,663 and/or 5,724,187, and/or in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005 by Karner etal. and published Mar. 23, 2006 as U.S. Publication No. 2006/0061008;and/or Ser. No. 10/993,302, filed Nov. 19, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No.7,338,177; and/or in U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/525,952,filed Nov. 26, 2003; Ser. No. 60/717,093, filed Sep. 14, 2005; and/orSer. No. 60/732,245, filed Nov. 1, 2005, and/or in PCT Application No.PCT/US03/29776, filed Sep. 19, 2003 by Donnelly Corp. et al. for MIRRORREFLECTIVE ELEMENT ASSEMBLY, and published Apr. 1, 2004 as InternationalPublication No. WO 2004/026633, which are all hereby incorporated hereinby reference in their entireties. Optionally, a prismatic reflectiveelement may comprise a display on demand or transflective prismaticelement (such as described in PCT Application No. PCT/US03/29776, filedSep. 19, 2003 by Donnelly Corp. et al. for MIRROR REFLECTIVE ELEMENTASSEMBLY, and published Apr. 1, 2004 as International Publication No. WO2004/026633; and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/993,302, filedNov. 19, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,338,177; and/or U.S. provisionalapplication Ser. No. 60/525,952, filed Nov. 26, 2003, which are allhereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties) so that thedisplays are viewable through the reflective element, while the displayarea still functions to substantially reflect light, in order to providea generally uniform prismatic reflective element even in the areas thathave display elements positioned behind the reflective element.

Optionally, the display and any associated user inputs may be associatedwith various accessories or systems, such as, for example, a tirepressure monitoring system or a passenger air bag status or a garagedoor opening system or a telematics system or any other accessory orsystem of the mirror assembly or of the vehicle or of an accessorymodule or console of the vehicle, such as an accessory module or consoleof the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,877,888; 6,824,281;6,690,268; 6,672,744; 6,386,742; and 6,124,886, and/or, and/or PCTApplication No. PCT/US03/03012, filed Jan. 31, 2003 by DonnellyCorporation for VEHICLE ACCESSORY MODULE, and published Aug. 7, 2003 asInternational Publication No. WO 03/065084, and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US03/40611, filed Dec. 19, 2003 by Donnelly Corporation forACCESSORY SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, and published Jul. 15, 2004 asInternational Publication No. WO 2004/058540, and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US04/15424, filed May 18, 2004 by Donnelly Corporation et al. forMIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE, and published on Dec. 2, 2004, asInternational Publication No. WO 2004/103772, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, the user inputs of the mirror assembly or display or modulemay comprise other types of buttons or switches for controlling oractivating/deactivating one or more electrical accessories or devices ofor associated with the mirror assembly. The mirror assembly may compriseany type of switches or buttons, such as touch or proximity sensingswitches, such as touch or proximity switches of the types describedabove, or the inputs may comprise other types of buttons or switches,such as those described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/029,695,filed Jan. 5, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,253,723; and/or U.S. provisionalapplications, Ser. No. 60/553,517, filed Mar. 16, 2004; Ser. No.60/535,559, filed Jan. 9, 2004; Ser. No. 60/690,401, filed Jun. 14,2005; and Ser. No. 60/719,482, filed Sep. 22, 2005, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties, or such asfabric-made position detectors, such as those described in U.S. Pat.Nos. 6,504,531; 6,501,465; 6,492,980; 6,452,479; 6,437,258; and6,369,804, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties. For example, the inputs may comprise a touch or proximitysensor of the types commercially available from TouchSensorTechnologies, LLC of Wheaton, Ill. The touch or proximity sensor may beoperable to generate an electric field and to detect the presence of aconductive mass entering the field. When a voltage is applied to thesensor, the sensor generates the electric field, which emanates throughany dielectric material, such as plastic or the like, at the sensor.When a conductive mass (such as a person's finger or the like, or metalor the like) enters the electric field, the sensor may detect a changein the field and may indicate such a detection. Other types of switchesor buttons or inputs or sensors may be incorporated to provide thedesired function, without affecting the scope of the present invention.

Optionally, the user inputs or buttons may comprise user inputs for agarage door opening system, such as a vehicle based garage door openingsystem of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,396,408; 6,362,771;7,023,322; and 5,798,688, and/or U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No.60/502,806, filed Sep. 12, 2003 by Taylor et al. for GARAGE DOOR OPENINGSYSTEM FOR VEHICLE; and Ser. No. 60/444,726, filed Feb. 4, 2003, whichare hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Theuser inputs may also or otherwise function to activate and deactivate adisplay or function or accessory, and/or may activate/deactivate and/orcommence a calibration of a compass system of the mirror assembly and/orvehicle. The compass system may include compass sensors and circuitrywithin the mirror assembly or within a compass pod or module at or nearor associated with the mirror assembly. Optionally, the user inputs mayalso or otherwise comprise user inputs for a telematics system of thevehicle, such as, for example, an ONSTAR® system as found in GeneralMotors vehicles and/or such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,862,594;4,937,945; 5,131,154; 5,255,442; 5,632,092; 5,798,688; 5,971,552;5,924,212; 6,243,003; 6,278,377; and 6,420,975; 6,477,464; 6,946,978;7,308,341; 7,167,796; 7,004,593; and/or 6,678,614, and/or PCTApplication No. PCT/US03/40611, filed Dec. 19, 2003 by DonnellyCorporation et al. for ACCESSORY SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, and published Jul.15, 2004 as International Publication No. WO 2004/058540, and/or PCTApplication No. PCT/US03/308877, filed Oct. 1, 2003 by Donnelly Corp.for MICROPHONE SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, and published Apr. 15, 2004 asInternational Publication No. WO 2004/032568, which are all herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, the mirror assembly may include one or more otheraccessories at or within the mirror casing, such as one or moreelectrical or electronic devices or accessories, such as antennas,including global positioning system (GPS) or cellular phone antennas,such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,552, a communication module,such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,688, a blind spot detectionsystem, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,929,786 and/or 5,786,772,transmitters and/or receivers, such as a garage door opener or the like,a digital network, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,575, ahigh/low headlamp controller, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,796,094 and/or 5,715,093, a memory mirror system, such as disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 5,796,176, a hands-free phone attachment, a video devicefor internal cabin surveillance and/or video telephone function, such asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,760,962 and/or 5,877,897, a remote keylessentry receiver, lights, such as map reading lights or one or more otherlights or illumination sources, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.6,690,268; 5,938,321; 5,813,745; 5,820,245; 5,673,994; 5,649,756;5,178,448; 5,671,996; 4,646,210; 4,733,336; 4,807,096; 6,042,253;5,669,698; 7,195,381; 6,971,775; and/or 7,249,860, microphones, such asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,243,003; 6,278,377; and/or 6,420,975;and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/529,715, filed Mar. 30, 2005,now U.S. Pat. No. 7,657,052; and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US03/30877,filed Oct. 1, 2003, and published Apr. 15, 2004 as InternationalPublication No. WO 2004/032568, speakers, antennas, including globalpositioning system (GPS) or cellular phone antennas, such as disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,552, a communication module, such as disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 5,798,688, a voice recorder, a blind spot detectionsystem, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,929,786 and/or 5,786,772,and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/427,051, filed Apr. 30, 2003,now U.S. Pat. No. 7,038,577; and Ser. No. 10/209,173, filed Jul. 31,2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,882,287; and/or U.S. provisional applicationSer. No. 60/638,687, filed Dec. 23, 2004, transmitters and/or receivers,such as for a garage door opener or a vehicle door unlocking system orthe like (such as a remote keyless entry system), a digital network,such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,575, a high/low headlampcontroller, such as a camera based headlamp control, such as disclosedin U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,796,094 and/or 5,715,093, a memory mirror system,such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,796,176, a hands-free phoneattachment, an imaging system or components or circuitry or displaythereof, such as an imaging and/or display system of the types describedin U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,690,268 and 6,847,487; and/or U.S. provisionalapplications, Ser. No. 60/614,644, filed Sep. 30, 2004; Ser. No.60/618,686, filed Oct. 14, 2004; Ser. No. 60/628,709, filed Nov. 17,2004; Ser. No. 60/644,903, filed Jan. 11, 2005; Ser. No. 60/667,049,filed Mar. 31, 2005; and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/105,757,filed Apr. 14, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,526,103, a video device forinternal cabin surveillance (such as for sleep detection or driverdrowsiness detection or the like) and/or video telephone function, suchas disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,760,962 and/or 5,877,897, a remotekeyless entry receiver, a seat occupancy detector, a remote startercontrol, a yaw sensor, a clock, a carbon monoxide detector, statusdisplays, such as displays that display a status of a door of thevehicle, a transmission selection (4wd/2wd or traction control (TCS) orthe like), an antilock braking system, a road condition (that may warnthe driver of icy road conditions) and/or the like, a trip computer, atire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) receiver (such as described inU.S. Pat. Nos. 6,124,647; 6,294,989; 6,445,287; 6,472,979; 6,731,205;and/or 7,423,522, and/or U.S. provisional application, Ser. No.60/611,796, filed Sep. 21, 2004), and/or an ONSTAR® system, a compass,such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,924,212; 4,862,594; 4,937,945;5,131,154; 5,255,442; and/or 5,632,092, an alert system and/orcomponents or elements thereof (such as described in U.S. provisionalapplications, Ser. No. 61/180,257, filed May 21, 2009; Ser. No.61/156,184, filed Feb. 27, 2009; and Ser. No. 61/174,596, filed May 1,2009, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties), and/or any other accessory or circuitry or the like (withall of the above-referenced patents and PCT and U.S. patent applicationsbeing commonly assigned to Donnelly Corporation, and with thedisclosures of the referenced patents and patent applications beinghereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties).

Optionally, the accessory or accessories, such as those described aboveand/or below, may be positioned at or within the mirror casing and maybe included on or integrated in a printed circuit board positionedwithin the mirror casing, such as along a rear surface of the reflectiveelement or elsewhere within a cavity defined by the casing, withoutaffecting the scope of the present invention. The user actuatable inputsand/or touch sensors and/or proximity sensors and displays describedabove may be actuatable to control and/or adjust the accessories of themirror assembly/system and/or overhead console and/or accessory moduleand/or vehicle. The connection or link between the controls and thedisplay screen device and/or the navigation system and/or other systemsand accessories of the mirror system may be provided via vehicleelectronic or communication systems and the like, and may be connectedvia various protocols or nodes, such as BLUETOOTH®, SCP, UBP, J1850, CANJ2284, Fire Wire 1394, MOST, LIN, FlexRay™, Byte Flight and/or the like,or other vehicle-based or in-vehicle communication links or systems(such as WIFI and/or IRDA) and/or the like, or via VHF or UHF or otherwireless transmission foilnats, depending on the particular applicationof the mirror/accessory system and the vehicle. Optionally, theconnections or links may be provided via various wireless connectivityor links, without affecting the scope of the present invention.

Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments maybe carried out without departing from the principles of the presentinvention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of theappended claims as interpreted according to the principles of patentlaw.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An interior rearview mirror system for avehicle comprising: an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising acasing, a variable reflectivity reflective element, and a video displayscreen disposed in said casing and behind said reflective element, saidvideo display screen operable to display images that are viewablethrough said reflective element by a person viewing said interiorrearview mirror assembly when it is normally mounted in a vehicleequipped with said interior rearview mirror system; wherein saidvariable reflectivity reflective element comprises an electrochromicreflective element; wherein said interior rearview mirror assemblyincludes (i) a glare light sensor for sensing glare light at or nearsaid reflective element and (ii) an ambient light sensor for sensingambient light at said interior rearview mirror assembly; an image sensoroperable to capture images of a scene encompassed by a field of view ofsaid image sensor; wherein said interior rearview mirror assemblycomprises a decoder that decodes analog output signals of said imagesensor, said decoder having a microprocessor operable to (i) processimage data and (ii) control said video display screen via a digitalsignal and (iii) control dimming of said electrochromic reflectiveelement; wherein said decoder is responsive to a glare light output ofsaid glare light sensor and an ambient light output of said ambientlight sensor; wherein said microprocessor of said decoder comprises onscreen display capability; wherein said decoder comprises at least oneof on screen display circuitry, image enhancement circuitry, a 2Dde-interlacing engine and a high quality scalar; wherein said decoder isoperable to provide at least one of (a) programmable hue of a displaydisplayed by said video display screen, (b) programmable brightness of adisplay displayed by said video display screen, (c) programmablesaturation of a display displayed by said video display screen, (d)programmable contrast of a display displayed by said video displayscreen, (e) programmable sharpness control of a display displayed bysaid video display screen, (f) programmable sharpness control of adisplay displayed by said video display screen with vertical peaking,(g) programmable color transient improvement control of a displaydisplayed by said video display screen, (h) programmablepanorama/water-glass scaling of a display displayed by said videodisplay screen, (i) programmable Gamma correction tables for said videodisplay screen, (j) programmable black/white stretch of a displaydisplayed by said video display screen and (k) programmable favoritecolor enhancement of a display displayed by said video display screen;wherein, responsive to said outputs of said glare light sensor and saidambient light sensor, said microprocessor of said decoder (i) adjuststhe intensity of images displayed by said video display screen and (ii)controls dimming of said electrochromic reflective element, and whereinsaid microprocessor of said decoder also provides on screen displaycomprising graphic overlays.
 2. The interior rearview mirror system ofclaim 1, further comprising a transparent organic light emitting diodedisplay element.
 3. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 2,wherein said transparent organic light emitting diode display elementcomprises transparent metal cathodes and transparent electricallyconductive anodes with an emission layer disposed between saidtransparent metal cathodes and said transparent electrically conductiveanodes, and wherein when an electric current is passed between theelectrodes of said transparent organic light emitting diode displayelement, light is emitted by said transparent organic light emittingdiode display element.
 4. The interior rearview mirror system of claim3, wherein when the electric current is passed between the electrodes ofsaid transparent organic light emitting diode display element, light isemitted with a color that is dependent on the materials of saidtransparent organic light emitting diode display element.
 5. Theinterior rearview mirror system of claim 1, further comprising a compasschip having at least two magnetoresponsive sensing elements and compasscircuitry established thereon, said compass chip positioned at amounting base of said interior rearview mirror assembly, wherein saidcompass chip has at least one connecting element for connecting to avehicle wire harness that extends downward from a vehicle headliner,said vehicle wire harness providing power to said compass chip whenconnected thereto and when the vehicle is normally operated.
 6. Aninterior rearview mirror system for a vehicle comprising: an interiorrearview mirror comprising a casing, a reflective element, and a videodisplay screen disposed in said casing and behind said reflectiveelement; wherein said reflective element comprises an electrochromicreflective element; wherein said interior rearview mirror assemblyincludes (i) a glare light sensor for sensing glare light at or nearsaid reflective element and (ii) an ambient light sensor for sensingambient light at said interior rearview mirror assembly; said videodisplay screen operable to display images that are viewable through saidreflective element by a person viewing said interior rearview mirrorassembly when it is normally mounted in a vehicle; an image sensoroperable to capture images of a scene encompassed by a field of view ofsaid image sensor, said image sensor generating an output signalindicative of captured image data; a decoder that decodes said outputsignal of said image sensor, said decoder having a microprocessoroperable to (i) process image data, (ii) control said video displayscreen and (iii) control dimming of said electrochromic reflectiveelement, such that said captured image data are processed and images aredisplayed and said electrochromic reflective element is dimmed viaoperation of a common microprocessor; and wherein said decoder isresponsive to a glare light output of said glare light sensor and anambient light output of said ambient light sensor; wherein said decoder,when said electrochromic reflective element is dimmed to a darker state,is operable to increase an intensity of images displayed on said videodisplay screen, and wherein said decoder, when said electrochromicreflective element is undimmed to a lighter state, is operable todecrease an intensity of images displayed on said video display screen;and wherein, responsive to said outputs of said glare light sensor andsaid ambient light sensor, said microprocessor of said decoder (i)adjusts the intensity of images displayed by said video display screenand (ii) controls dimming of said electrochromic reflective element, andwherein said microprocessor of said decoder also provides on screendisplay comprising graphic overlays.
 7. The interior rearview mirrorsystem of claim 1, wherein said decoder, when said electrochromicreflective element is dimmed to a darker state, is operable to increasean intensity of images displayed on said video display screen.
 8. Theinterior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein said decoder, whensaid electrochromic reflective element is undimmed to a lighter state,is operable to decrease an intensity of images displayed on said videodisplay screen.
 9. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1,wherein said analog output signal comprises a NTSC signal and whereinsaid decoder digitizes said NTSC signal and communicates said digitalsignal to said video display screen.
 10. The interior rearview mirrorsystem of claim 1, wherein said video display screen comprises a thinfilm transistor backlit video display screen.
 11. The interior rearviewmirror system of claim 10, wherein said decoder comprises a lightemitting diode controller for controlling a plurality of backlightinglight emitting diodes of said thin film transistor backlit video displayscreen.
 12. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 1, wherein saiddecoder supports a two-wire serial bus interface for interfacing with abus system of the equipped vehicle.
 13. The interior rearview mirrorsystem of claim 1, wherein said decoder is operable to generate agraphic overlay that is electronically generated and superimposed on thedisplayed images by said decoder.
 14. The interior rearview mirrorsystem of claim 1, wherein said decoder comprises at least one of UARTcapability, I²C capability and SPI capability.
 15. The interior rearviewmirror system of claim 1, wherein said decoder comprises a transceiverand wherein said decoder is linked to a LIN node of a network system ofthe equipped vehicle.
 16. An interior rearview mirror system for avehicle comprising: an interior rearview mirror assembly comprising acasing, a variable reflectivity reflective element, and a video displayscreen disposed in said casing and behind said reflective element, saidvideo display screen operable to display images that are viewablethrough said reflective element by a person viewing said interiorrearview mirror assembly when it is normally mounted in a vehicleequipped with said interior rearview mirror system; wherein saidinterior rearview mirror assembly includes (i) a glare light sensor forsensing glare light at or near said reflective element and (ii) anambient light sensor for sensing ambient light at said interior rearviewmirror assembly; an image sensor operable to capture images of a sceneencompassed by a field of view of said image sensor; wherein saidinterior rearview mirror assembly comprises a decoder that decodesanalog output signals of said image sensor, said decoder having amicroprocessor operable to (i) process image data and (ii) control saidvideo display screen via a digital signal and (iii) control dimming ofsaid variable reflectivity reflective element; wherein said decoder isresponsive to a glare light output of said glare light sensor and anambient light output of said ambient light sensor; wherein said analogoutput signal comprises a NTSC signal and wherein said decoder digitizessaid NTSC signal and communicates said digital signal to said videodisplay screen; wherein said microprocessor of said decoder comprises onscreen display capability; wherein said video display screen comprises athin film transistor backlit video display screen, and wherein saiddecoder comprises a light emitting diode controller for controlling aplurality of backlighting light emitting diodes of said thin filmtransistor backlit video display screen; wherein said decoder isoperable to provide at least one of (a) programmable hue of a displaydisplayed by said video display screen, (b) programmable brightness of adisplay displayed by said video display screen, (c) programmablesaturation of a display displayed by said video display screen, (d)programmable contrast of a display displayed by said video displayscreen, (e) programmable sharpness control of a display displayed bysaid video display screen, (f) programmable sharpness control of adisplay displayed by said video display screen with vertical peaking,(g) programmable color transient improvement control of a displaydisplayed by said video display screen, (h) programmablepanorama/water-glass scaling of a display displayed by said videodisplay screen, (i) programmable Gamma correction tables for said videodisplay screen, (j) programmable black/white stretch of a displaydisplayed by said video display screen and (k) programmable favoritecolor enhancement of a display displayed by said video display screen;and wherein, responsive to said outputs of said glare light sensor andsaid ambient light sensor, said microprocessor of said decoder (i)adjusts the intensity of images displayed by said video display screenand (ii) controls dimming of said variable reflectivity reflectiveelement, and wherein said microprocessor of said decoder also provideson screen display comprising graphic overlays.
 17. The interior rearviewmirror system of claim 16, wherein said decoder comprises at least oneof on screen display circuitry, image enhancement circuitry, a 2Dde-interlacing engine and a high quality scalar.
 18. The interiorrearview mirror system of claim 16, wherein said decoder, when saidvariable reflectivity reflective element is dimmed to a darker state, isoperable to increase an intensity of images displayed on said videodisplay screen, and wherein said decoder, when said variablereflectivity reflective element is undimmed to a lighter state, isoperable to decrease an intensity of images displayed on said videodisplay screen.